USERS of a popular bus service which was to be axed may have a happy ending to their transport worries after all.

Passengers who use the X22 bus - which travels from Glebe Green to Liverpool on Saturdays with a return run in the evening - were told by operators Arriva that the bus would be cancelled at the end of December.

But a new operator - who cannot be named until negotiations are completed - has submitted an application to Cheshire County Council to carry on the service.

At the time of going to press, the company and county council were at an advanced stage of negotiation to ensure the bus continues.

As the Guardian reported last month, the bus provides a lifeline for many elderly people who travel on it to see family in Liverpool and they were devastated by the news that the service would be cancelled.

Although the deal between the council and the operator is not certain to go ahead, county councillor Pam Booher said she hoped the bus might continue to run.

She said: "The negotiations are at a very delicate stage at the moment and the county council is looking at a tender that has been made.

"The council is currently in talks with the operator to see if a solution can be found but we will not know until Thursday, December 12 if the tender has come through.

"We cannot name the operator at the moment while negotiations are going on.

"I can say that it is not Arriva, as that company is not interested in carrying on the service at all.

"It looks like we may be able to retain it with another operator but we really will not know for sure until the end of the week."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk